In a riveting showdown on Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors secured a 123-116 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers, marking their fourth consecutive win in what could potentially be a preview of the first round of the playoffs.
Stephen Curry was instrumental in the Warriors’ success, amassing 37 points, while Brandin Podziemski contributed significantly with 28 points, including a career-high of eight 3-pointers on a night when Curry was less effective from beyond the arc, hitting only 4 of his 11 attempts. This victory comes on the heels of Curry’s remarkable performance on Tuesday against Memphis, where he scored 52 points with 12 3-pointers.
For the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James led the charge with 33 points and nine assists. Austin Reaves was also impressive, adding 31 points and sinking nine 3-pointers. Meanwhile, Rui Hachimura chipped in with 24 points, and Luke Doncic scored 19 points, despite failing to make any of his six 3-point attempts.
During the game’s crucial moments, Doncic brought the Lakers within striking distance at 105-99. However, Curry and Podziemski quickly responded by hitting consecutive 3-pointers. Although James and Reaves attempted to close the gap with their 3-pointers, the Lakers remained down by seven points.
Throughout the third quarter, an exciting exchange of scoring runs took place between James and Curry. The Lakers managed to cut a 16-point deficit from the second quarter down to eight. James contributed 12 of his team’s 14 points early in the quarter, while Curry posted 13 consecutive points before converting three free throws, ensuring the Warriors entered the fourth quarter with an 88-77 lead.
Jonathan Kuminga was a notable contributor off the bench for Golden State, providing 18 points and nine rebounds. This victory was the Warriors’ first win over the Lakers in four meetings this season, and their first win in Los Angeles in over a year.
As the Warriors concluded their six-game road trip with a 4-2 record, they remain locked in a fierce competition to secure a top-six playoff seed and avoid the play-in tournament with six games remaining.
On the other hand, James reached a personal milestone by surpassing 11,000 points as a Laker with a 3-pointer in the second quarter, becoming the 10th player in franchise history to do so.
In the game’s closing seconds, Reaves hit a 3-pointer off a timeout, leaving the Lakers trailing 121-116. However, after Doncic fouled Curry, he made both ensuing free throws, sealing the Warriors’ victory.
Jimmy Butler pivoted to a less crucial role in the matchup, scoring just 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting, a drop from his 17.3 average and the 27 points he delivered against Memphis.
Looking ahead, both teams are set to complete back-to-back games on Saturday, with the Warriors hosting Denver and the Lakers facing off against New Orleans.